KGEI admitted the sinking of an Allied warship in the port of Sydney by the attack of a special Japanese submarine flotilla.
Rode in a calesa. Asked the cochero: “Who do you think will win the war?” I was curious to know the sentiments of the masses.
“The Americans!” he answered unequivocally.
“Why? “I asked to provoke him.
“Because MacArthur will get plenty of planes and then . . .”
“And then what?”
“Aba, señor, maybe you are from Fort Santiago and then you will report.”
“No, No. You can trust me. My son is in the Army. He is now in Capaz.”
“Ah, I wish I was also fighting in Bataan.”
“But why do you think the Americans will win?” I brought the subject back.
“How can these people win? Look at their trucks, cars, tanks, uniforms. Not so good. It looks breakable like Japanese toys.”
“Well, then, why did the USAFFE lose?”
He thought for a while. And then he said: “Because they were surprised. Even Jack Dempsey, I can knock out if I just hit him suddenly. But when MacArthur comes back with the flying fortress and the bombers and tanks, well, well…”
“What do you mean—well, well . . .”
“I mean it will be just very well, heh, heh, heh!”
“Well, stop out there at Tom’s, on that corner.”
I entered Tom’s. The place had a different atmosphere. The floors were wet and sticky. The people were not as well dressed as in the pre-war days. And the customers were different. There was a pianist playing “My Baby Don’t Care” and a fat lady was singing in a high falsetto.
“Coffee!” I told the waiter.
While waiting for the coffee, a hostess with gold teeth sat on my table. “Please,” she said in a state of semi-intoxication, “protect me from that brute.” She was pointing to a Japanese officer. I did not know what to say. “The Japanese…“ and she started giving a speech against Japan. “Don’t speak loudly,” I said. She spoke louder and louder. “Stop it!” I said. “This man here,” she said, “agrees with me!” “Stop it!” I said. “STOP IT! STOP!”
“Wake up, Vic,” said my wife.